Commercial, noncommercial pesticide training available February through April

Registration for training is now available for Nebraska’s commercial and noncommercial pesticide applicators seeking first-time certification, or recertification of their license, to use or purchase restricted-use pesticides in 2019. The statewide training is coordinated through the Nebraska Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program from February through April.

Commercial and noncommercial applicators whose licenses expire in April are to be mailed a schedule booklet showing certification information and dates. The booklet also is available at local extension offices; by calling the Pesticide Safety Education Program at 800-627-7216 or 402-472-1632; or by visiting pested.unl.edu/documents/2019-psep-training-booklet.pdf.

In 2019, about 3,200 commercial and noncommercial applicators need to be recertified. They include fumigators, ornamental and turf applicators, exterminators and others, said Clyde Ogg, Nebraska Extension pesticide safety educator.

“Commercial applicators are those using restricted-use pesticides, and in some cases, general-use pesticides, on a contract or for-hire basis,” Ogg said. “Noncommercial applicators are those applying these same pesticides to sites owned by an employer, or for a governmental agency or political subdivision of the state.”

Separate Extension training opportunities will be held for dicamba products XtendiMax, FeXapan and Engenia, classified as restricted-use pesticides since 2017. It is a federal requirement to complete this state-approved dicamba training prior to using the three products, due to the potential for drift and damage to nontarget crops. This fall, the Environmental Protection Agency extended registration for these products through Dec. 20, 2020. Annual training is required. See pested.unl.edu/certification-and-training#dicamba for training information beginning Jan. 2.

Advance registration is required for all initial commercial and noncommercial applicator training, as well as most other training sessions. Each applicator pays an $80 fee, regardless of the number of training sessions. Required initial training study materials range from $10 to $30 per manual, depending on category. Nebraska Department of Agriculture licensing is an additional $90.

Initial certification requires passing a general-standards exam, in addition to one or more specific applicator category exams. Applicants can study by themselves, though Ogg said the best results combine training with study materials before taking the exams.

Recertification opportunities are available at extension offices in February and March, and at several annual conferences and trade association meetings. The best opportunity for commercial applicators to recertify in the agricultural plant category and demo and research subcategory, other than by examination, will be at Nebraska Extension Crop Production Clinics in January.

Extension conducts the training programs, while the Nebraska Department of Agriculture issues the licenses. Nebraska Department of Agriculture testing is offered at initial training locations; in addition is computer-based testing for several categories at various testing centers. For information about this testing, visit www.nda.nebraska.gov/pesticide/pearson_vue_testing.html. Questions about individual applicator license status should be directed to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture at 402-471-2351 or 877-800-4080.

Initial certification in several categories is offered at the following locations and dates. Each site offers some of the 19 categories; check the schedule booklet or website for details. Those seeking initial certification must pre-register for one of the following training sessions and purchase study materials at least 10 days in advance. Pre-register at pested.unl.edu.

Initial commercial and noncommercial training dates

The start time is 8:30 a.m. Note the change in location for Madison County. Available categories vary at each location; check the pesticide applicator education schedule booklet for details. Pre-registration is required at pested.unl.edu/certification-and-training#commercial.

Beatrice—Gage County Extension Office, Fairgrounds, 1115 W. Scott St., March 19;

Columbus—Platte County Courthouse, 2610 14th St., Feb. 26;

Grand Island—College Park, Hall County Extension Office, 3180 W. Highway 34, Feb. 5 and 26;

Lincoln—Lancaster County Extension Office, 444 Cherrycreek Road, Feb. 5 and 26, April 11;

Norfolk—Madison County Extension Office, 1305 S. 13th St., Feb. 5 and 28, March 19;

North Platte—Nebraska West Central Research and Extension Center, 402 W. State Farm Road, Feb. 12 and 28, March 19, April 11;

Omaha—Douglas/Sarpy County Extension Office, 8015 W. Center Road, Feb. 12, March 19, April 11;

O’Neill—Holt County Annex, 128 N. Sixth St., Suite 100, April 18; and

Scottsbluff—Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center, 4502 Ave. I, Feb. 12, 26 and 28; April 11.

Recertification commercial and noncommercial training dates

The start time is 9 a.m. Note the change in location for Madison County. Available categories vary at each location; check the pesticide applicator education schedule booklet for details. Pre-registration is required at pested.unl.edu/certification-and-training#commercial.

Beatrice—Gage County Extension Office, Fairgrounds, 1115 W. Scott St., Feb. 19, March 12 and 21.

Columbus—Platte County Courthouse, 2610 14th St., Feb. 21, March 21.

Grand Island—College Park, Hall County Extension Office, 3180 W. Highway 34, Feb. 7 and 19.

Holdrege—Phelps County Fairgrounds, Ag Center, 1308 Second St., Feb. 13, March 26.

Lincoln—Lancaster County Extension Office, 444 Cherrycreek Road, Feb. 7 and 21, March 28.

Norfolk—Madison County Extension Office, 1305 S. 13th St., Feb. 7, 13 and 19; March 12.

North Platte—Nebraska West Central Research and Extension Center, 402 W. State Farm Road, Feb. 14 and 19, March 21.

O’Neill—Holt County Annex, 128 N. Sixth St., Suite 100, Feb. 14, March 21.

Omaha—Douglas/Sarpy County Extension Office, 8015 W. Center Road, Feb. 14, March 21 and 26.

Scottsbluff—UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center, 4502 Ave. I, Feb. 7 and 21, March 26.

Nebraska Extension Crop Production Clinics also are a great way to recertify in the agricultural pest control-plant category. Pre-register online for $80 at http://agronomy.unl.edu/cpc to attend one of the following:

Jan. 9—Gering, Gering Civic Center, 1050 M St.;

Jan. 10—North Platte, Sandhills Convention Center, 2102 S. Jeffers St.;

Jan. 15—La Vista, La Vista Conference Center, 12520 Westport Parkway;

Jan. 17—York, Holthus Convention Center, 3130 Holen Ave.;

Jan. 23 or 24—Norfolk, Lifelong Learning Center, Northeast Community College, 601 E. Benjamin Ave.; and

Jan. 28 to 29—Kearney, Nebraska Crop Management Conference, Younes Conference Center, 416 Talmadge Road (Pre-registration is required. Recertification is available either day at $80 per day or both days for $150.)

Recertification also is available at annual trade organization conferences. Conferences offering these opportunities for specific categories include:

Nebraska Turfgrass Conference—Jan. 8 to 10, La Vista Conference Center, 12540 Westport Parkway, La Vista. Recertification in ornamental and turf pest control. Pre-register at www.nebraskaturfgrass.com or call the Nebraska Turfgrass Association at 402-472-5351.

Nebraska Urban Pest Management Conference—Feb. 21 to 22, The Cornhusker Hotel, 333 S. 13th St., Lincoln. Recertification in structural/health-related pest control, wood-destroying organisms, fumigation and public health. Pre-register at nspca.org or call the Nebraska State Pest Control Association, 402-476-1528, for copies of the program and registration information.

Nebraska Aviation Trades Association Convention—Feb. 19 to 20, The Cornhusker Hotel, Lincoln. Recertification in ag plant and aerial pest control. For more information, email [email protected] or call the Nebraska Aviation Trades Association at 402-761-2211.